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dairyqueen84's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure why I enjoyed this book so much because nothing was resolved. Engaging characters and unique storyline.
couillac's review against another edition
2.0
This is an undeniably thought-provoking book, but I'm not as bowled over by it as so many other reviewers have been. It tries to walk a challenging line between children's and teen, and I'm not sure it manages to find its audience.
I am impressed with the themes of stories, truth and lies, friendship and loyalty, and secrets, and I think Starmer is skilled at teasing out the complexity and darker questions that lie behind these topics. At the same time, I struggled with the momentum and pacing, wanting more of Fiona and her story and never quite knowing where Alistair stood. He seemed to vacillate so widely in his perspectives on Fiona, Charlie, Kyle and others, and often would change his mind for no apparent reason. Subplots like Halloween and the trip to Gina's and Kyle confronting Dorian didn't feel like they came organically from the story and never developed into much. Aquavania and its rules and even the threat of the Riverman all felt too vague and intangible for me to totally buy into. And the ending, while appropriately vague for this kind of story, felt too unresolved.
That said, I think the right kind of tween could really enjoy this book, and I appreciate the author's trust in his readers to fill in many of the gaps themselves and to think seriously about some intriguing and dark subjects. Still, I think a trimmer plot with more of a build would have been more effective.
I look forward to possibly discussing this with my Mock Newbery book club. Perhaps they'll change my mind about some things. It's certainly very unique.
I am impressed with the themes of stories, truth and lies, friendship and loyalty, and secrets, and I think Starmer is skilled at teasing out the complexity and darker questions that lie behind these topics. At the same time, I struggled with the momentum and pacing, wanting more of Fiona and her story and never quite knowing where Alistair stood. He seemed to vacillate so widely in his perspectives on Fiona, Charlie, Kyle and others, and often would change his mind for no apparent reason. Subplots like Halloween and the trip to Gina's and Kyle confronting Dorian didn't feel like they came organically from the story and never developed into much. Aquavania and its rules and even the threat of the Riverman all felt too vague and intangible for me to totally buy into. And the ending, while appropriately vague for this kind of story, felt too unresolved.
That said, I think the right kind of tween could really enjoy this book, and I appreciate the author's trust in his readers to fill in many of the gaps themselves and to think seriously about some intriguing and dark subjects. Still, I think a trimmer plot with more of a build would have been more effective.
I look forward to possibly discussing this with my Mock Newbery book club. Perhaps they'll change my mind about some things. It's certainly very unique.
hsquared's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still thinking about this book, but right now I'd give it a solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars. Ok, maybe not so solid. The writing was terrific and the book completely engaging. Like Alistair, I was pretty convinced that Fiona's story was a coping mechanism for something much more sinister she was dealing with. That is, until I wasn't. The ending--in all it's ambiguous glory--quite frankly made me want to throw the book across the bedroom. When I discovered this morning that the book is the first in a planned trilogy, I'm a little less bothered by the ending. The question is, how will young readers feel about it? To be honest, I think this will be better appreciated by older middle grade to young adult. Although there are no explicit references to molestation, the suggestion that it may have occured is pretty strong. My gut feeling is that younger kids will completely miss that aspect of the novel, which is a pretty powerful component of the story, and focus more on the fantasy world. Regardless, this is a compelling book with so much to discuss. With all the layers of meaning, this is definitely a book for discussion.
charlietheninth's review against another edition
5.0
First, I loved this book. But I am positively baffled as to why anyone would market it as a kid's book. Here's a quick summary: when Alastair's friend Fiona tells him she's discovered a magic land where anything you can dream of becomes reality, he's understandably skeptical. When she tells him this land is also haunted by the Riverman, who sucks kids souls out through their ears and makes them disappear in real life, Alastair decides that someone in real life is abusing Fiona, and this is her way of asking for help. His suspicions land on her creepy uncle, so he enlists his friends drunk older brother to help him buy a gun on the black market.
SLJ rates this as grades 4-8. I... What?
I mean, I'm a big believer in letting kids read whatever they want. But slap a different cover on this and you have an adult psychological thriller.
Obviously I'm reading the sequel. But this isn't a good fantasy pick for a kid who comes looking for a rec after Harry Potter, the Incorrigibles, Gregor, or Wildwood.
SLJ rates this as grades 4-8. I... What?
I mean, I'm a big believer in letting kids read whatever they want. But slap a different cover on this and you have an adult psychological thriller.
Obviously I'm reading the sequel. But this isn't a good fantasy pick for a kid who comes looking for a rec after Harry Potter, the Incorrigibles, Gregor, or Wildwood.
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the plot, but the audiobook production was godawful. Too much pausing and space. At times I thought the audiobook was broken or didn't download onto my phone correctly because the pause would last so long. I think if you are going to read this, read an ebook or the physical book, don't listen to it.
bookwench's review against another edition
5.0
I really need to give this to everyone I know and yell "READ THIS AND THEN TALK TO ME ABOUT IT!"
I don't even know what to do with this book. It's amazingly well written and ostensibly a middle grade novel, but it has the feeling of an adult novel written about 12 year olds. Alister's voice certainly doesn't sound like a 12 year old, but that could be because maybe he's not a 12 year old, that's wrapped up in the ambiguousness of the ending. And that ending? I didn't throw the book across the room but it was a close thing. There was a lot of involuntary yelling for the last 20 pages.
I'm surprised to hear that this is the first book of a trilogy. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like the openness of this book and I'm not sure I want everything tied up. But then again I can think of plenty of ways this could be a trilogy without sacrificing the ambiguity that runs through the book.
I don't even know what to do with this book. It's amazingly well written and ostensibly a middle grade novel, but it has the feeling of an adult novel written about 12 year olds. Alister's voice certainly doesn't sound like a 12 year old, but that could be because maybe he's not a 12 year old, that's wrapped up in the ambiguousness of the ending. And that ending? I didn't throw the book across the room but it was a close thing. There was a lot of involuntary yelling for the last 20 pages.
I'm surprised to hear that this is the first book of a trilogy. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like the openness of this book and I'm not sure I want everything tied up. But then again I can think of plenty of ways this could be a trilogy without sacrificing the ambiguity that runs through the book.
yoyology's review against another edition
4.0
Such an ambiguous ending. Going to need to give it a lot of thought.
kellyt_abc's review against another edition
2.0
I wasn't terribly fond of the book from the get-go, which seemed to simultaneously idolize child-like innocence and tear it down with themes of violence and vague allusions to sexual abuse--if you can't handle it well, don't put it in. The ending, I think, was going for Pan's Labyrinth-esque ambiguity, and in my opinion failed spectacularly.
line_so_fine's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy and mysterious, the fun is in parsing out what's real and what's not in this twisty tale about Fiona, who tells Alistair the tale of the Riverman- an entity who steals kids. Alistair isn't sure what parts of Fiona's tale are real, and has to piece together the truth. Pretty dark in spots.
elysioso's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5